https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Shibaura Institute of Technology The automatic detection of surface-level irregularities—defects or anomalies—in 3D data is of significant interest for various real-world purposes, such as industrial quality inspection, infrastructure monitoring, robotics, and autonomous systems. However, collecting annotated defect examples at a large scale is costly, and existing 3D anomaly detection methods either require templates or heavy memory, multiple inference passes, and brittle heuristic clustering. These shortcomings limit real-life deployment. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-framework-unsupervised-cloud-anomaly-localization.html Computer Sciences Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:00:01 EST news691235581 Industrial quality inspection plays a critical role in manufacturing, from ensuring the reliability of electronics and vehicles to preventing costly failures in aerospace and energy systems. Traditional vision-based inspection systems typically rely on Red, Green, Blue (RGB) cameras, which are fast and inexpensive but often miss defects related to geometry (scratches or dents), material structure, or heat dissipation. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-subtle-defects-industrial-visual.html Engineering Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:10:01 EST news691142849 Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, has received considerable attention in engineering. By applying paper-folding principles, researchers have created compact structures that are flexible, lightweight, and reconfigurable across aerospace, medicine, and robotics. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-shipping-real-wireless-origami-cushioning.html Engineering Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:24:41 EST news690816241 Tall structures like radio towers experience high wind loads that generate uplift forces at their foundations, a challenge that is increasing burden, as natural occurrences like typhoons and tornadoes become more frequent and severe. Transmission towers, telecommunication masts, and solar power installations are especially susceptible because uplift forces, rather than compressive forces, influence foundational stability. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-tackling-uplift-resistance-tall-infrastructure.html Engineering Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:09:56 EST news690815282 Invisible light beyond the range of human vision plays a vital role in communication technologies, medical diagnostics, and optical sensing. Ultraviolet and near-infrared wavelengths are routinely used in these fields, yet detecting them directly often requires complex instrumentation. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-crystal-emitting-red-uv-green.html Optics & Photonics Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:00:07 EST news689603661 Road accidents often stem from failing to notice vehicles. A study published in the journal IEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems introduces a method for detecting distant vehicles with over twice the accuracy of existing systems. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-distant-vehicles-safer-roads-camera.html Hi Tech & Innovation Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:59:23 EST news685105141 Many developed nations are facing the simultaneous aging of infrastructure built during periods of rapid economic growth. Japan has reached a critical turning point where numerous buildings and structures constructed in the post-war boom era now require demolition and renewal. The catalyst intensified dramatically after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which exposed vulnerabilities in structures failing to meet modern disaster prevention standards, leading to sharply increased demolition activity in urban areas. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-11-urban-infrastructure-renewal-sustainable-technique.html Engineering Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:35:04 EST news682619701 Due to the intense global impact of fossil fuel overuse on air quality and climate, the search for advanced clean energy solutions has become critical. Metal–air batteries offer a game-changing alternative, holding the potential to replace combustion engines in various applications. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-11-plasma-based-method-efficient-catalysts.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:50:05 EST news682613402 Rapid social and demographic change has reshaped how people live and connect in cities. In Tokyo, where urban density meets growing individualization, a new form of collective housing—shared houses—is redefining what home means. To understand how these spaces are marketed and perceived, researchers analyzed the descriptions of 1,374 shared houses listed by property suppliers on a major real estate website, uncovering how shared living is framed as a lifestyle choice rather than a cost-saving one. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-rent-houses-tokyo-lifestyle-safety.html Social Sciences Sat, 15 Nov 2025 23:40:02 EST news682349517 Astringency is a dry, puckering, rough, or sandpapery sensation in the mouth caused by plant-derived polyphenols. Polyphenols, including flavanols, are well known for risk reduction in cardiovascular diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-astringent-sharper-mind-flavanols-trigger.html Medical research Sat, 01 Nov 2025 10:00:04 EDT news681129949 Climate change, expedited by anthropogenic activities, has become a major environmental concern in this century. Governments and organizations worldwide are gradually making substantial efforts to mitigate this challenge. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-10-membrane-reactor-properties-carbon-dioxide.html Energy & Green Tech Thu, 30 Oct 2025 12:49:03 EDT news681047341 Non-destructive testing allows engineers to evaluate the integrity of structures such as pipelines, tanks, bridges, and machinery without dismantling them. Conventional approaches rely on loudspeakers, lasers, or electric sparks. While effective, these systems can be difficult or dangerous to use in flammable or confined areas and require considerable power to function effectively. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-10-enable-power-free-acoustic.html Engineering Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:29:16 EDT news680801353 Thailand's northern regions, characterized by complex geology and active fault systems, experience frequent landslides that threaten both lives and critical infrastructure. In 2022, a slope failure occurred along Highway No. 1088 in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. When a research team led by Professor Shinya Inazumi from Shibaura Institute of Technology conducted geotechnical investigations to determine the collapse's cause, they encountered a critical limitation. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-geophysical-machine-tool-subsurface-geomaterials.html Earth Sciences Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:34:04 EDT news680283242 Tokyo, one of the world's most densely populated megacities, sits on a highly active seismic zone where the threat of major earthquakes is ever-present. One of the most destructive aspects of seismic events in Tokyo is a geological phenomenon known as soil liquefaction. This occurs when the intense shaking from an earthquake causes saturated, loosely packed soil to temporarily lose its strength and stiffness, essentially causing the ground to behave like a liquid. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-machine-sharpens-earthquake-tokyo.html Earth Sciences Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:14:04 EDT news678446041 In the present times, origami-inspired three-dimensional (3D) devices are being developed, where a single sheet of material is folded into small devices. These devices are being developed for medical applications like stents or surgical tools; agricultural devices like soil-sensors; and efficient spacecraft radiators or solar arrays that are used in space technology. Along with innovation, it is also important to focus on sustainable technology that can fulfill human needs and is adaptable to environmental changes. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-09-portable-printer-fabrication-origami-devices.html Engineering Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:01:03 EDT news677775661 Receptor proteins, expressed on the cell surface or within the cell, bind to different signaling molecules, known as ligands, initiating cellular responses. Taste receptors, expressed in oral tissues, interact with tastants, the molecules responsible for the sensation of taste. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-scientists-ai-decode-protein-bitter.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:23:04 EDT news677244181 Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons. The resulting debilitating symptoms, such as loss of memory and cognition, and motor impairment, can significantly degrade patients' quality of life, confining them to round-the-clock care. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-vitamin-analogs-treatment-neurodegenerative-diseases.html Biochemistry Fri, 12 Sep 2025 12:10:01 EDT news676897234 Soil liquefaction can be a major threat to the infrastructure and built environments in an earthquake-prone area. This happens due to substantial loss of soil stiffness and strength due to applied stress. Loose, moderately granulated, sandy soil is more prone to soil liquefaction. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-09-cyclic-triaxial-liquefaction-resistance-chemically.html Engineering Fri, 12 Sep 2025 11:19:04 EDT news676894741 "A building is only as strong as its foundation" is a common adage to signify the importance of having a stable and solid base to build upon. The type and design of foundation are important for ensuring the structural safety of a building. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-08-earthquake-machine-geological-survey.html Engineering Fri, 08 Aug 2025 11:15:55 EDT news673870552 In a bid to improve quality control and reduce production errors, manufacturers are increasingly adopting automated anomaly detection systems. These systems automatically identify defects in manufacturing products and are widely employed in various industries like automotive manufacturing, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-07-efficient-anomaly-dual.html Engineering Thu, 31 Jul 2025 12:16:04 EDT news673182961 As urbanization increases and climate changes accelerate, there is an urgent need for sustainable and space-efficient solutions for heating and cooling in buildings. One promising solution is to use energy piles—concrete foundation systems that also serve as heat exchangers using geothermal energy. However, in high-density cities like Tokyo, Bangkok, and Manila, where buildings are often constructed on soft clay foundations, engineers face unique challenges in designing these energy piles. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-07-optimizing-geothermal-foundations-soft-clay.html Engineering Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:26:45 EDT news673007201 Fluorine-based compounds are everywhere—from life-saving pharmaceuticals and crop protection agents to high-performance materials like Teflon and refrigerants. Their unique chemical properties makes them indispensable across various industries. But synthesizing these compounds has long been a challenge due to the hazardous and toxic fluorinating reagents. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-cation-exchange-scalable-safer-hydrogen.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:10:05 EDT news672399770 Chemical synthesis lies at the heart of modern science and technology, enabling the creation of various pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials. While the demand for chemical synthesis grows with scientific advancements, it comes with the costs of environmental pollution and hazardous waste. To combat the same, researchers are now turning towards sustainable alternatives using green chemistry approaches. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-green-chemistry-yields-safer-method.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:29:03 EDT news669472141 Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, has evolved from a primarily ceremonial and decorative practice to an important tool in science and technology. With its applications ranging from solar panels in space to self-assembling robots, origami has revolutionized the design of modern engineering solutions. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-teng-origami-powering-sensor-smart.html Electronics & Semiconductors Tue, 10 Jun 2025 12:03:04 EDT news668775782 With global population growth accelerating urban expansion, construction activity has reached unprecedented levels—placing immense pressure on both natural resources as well as the environment. A cornerstone of modern-day infrastructure, Ordinary Portland Cement remains the most effective and commonly used soil solidifier despite contributing substantially to global carbon emissions. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-05-geopolymer-technology-recycled-glass-durable.html Engineering Thu, 29 May 2025 14:51:04 EDT news667749061 Soil liquefaction—the process where saturated soil loses its structure and transforms to a fluid-like state—can have devastating outcomes, as evidenced by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Large-scale liquefaction during this disaster damaged thousands of houses in the Tokyo Bay area, posing a formidable challenge to infrastructure in Japan. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-05-ai-augmented-chemical-grouting-complex.html Engineering Wed, 28 May 2025 16:32:47 EDT news667668762 Fluorescent molecules that absorb and emit light in the near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) regions have significant potential for various applications. These molecules can serve as markers for imaging biological tissues deep within the body, enhance solar cell efficiency by capturing more sunlight, or be incorporated into laser-protection eyewear to block harmful radiation from reaching the eyes. However, designing organic compounds with strong NIR emission is challenging. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-redox-switchable-dyes-tunable-fluorescence.html Biochemistry Thu, 22 May 2025 15:00:04 EDT news667144801 Transfer of charge is a process in which electrons move within a molecule or between two molecules. It is a crucial chemical process that can be applied to a wide range of technologies. Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) occurs when electrons are exchanged between donor and acceptor groups within a molecule via a series of overlapping electron orbits. This exchange creates a shift in light wavelength toward the red end of the light spectrum (redshift). This observable color shift due to ICT has applications in dye manufacturing and organic LEDs (OLEDs). https://phys.org/news/2025-05-hybrid-crystal-reversible-property.html Materials Science Thu, 15 May 2025 15:55:55 EDT news666543350 Many robotic applications rely on robotic arms or hands to handle different types of objects. Estimating the pose of such hand-held objects is an important yet challenging task in robotics, computer vision and even in augmented reality (AR) applications. A promising direction is to utilize multi-modal data, such as color (RGB) and depth (D) images. With the increasing availability of 3D sensors, many machine learning approaches have emerged to leverage this technique. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-05-vote-based-accurate-held-pose.html Robotics Thu, 01 May 2025 13:42:40 EDT news665325755 In industry, the detection of anomalies such as scratches, dents, and discolorations is crucial to ensure product quality and safety. However, conventional methods rely on heavy computational processing and image enhancement and may not truly reflect subtle defects, particularly in low-light settings. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-05-image-based-surface-defects-industrial.html Engineering Thu, 01 May 2025 12:02:03 EDT news665319721